Transcript of Roberto Vittori Chat

Q = Roberto, are you ready for the ISS?A = Yes, I’m ready for my mission.

Q = When are you going to Baikonur for the Soyuz check?A = Saturday April 13 I’m going to Baikonur for the Soyuz check.

Q = Roberto, do you have an astronaut/cosmonaut as your example?A = Yes, I do: John Young.

Q = Roberto, what will be the first thing you do when you’re in Earth orbit?A = Watch the Earth from space!

Q = Which kind of physical preparation are you doing at the moment?A = Most of the physical preparation is done with a rotating chair.

Q = Will there be women on the ISS when you’re there?A = No, not this time, but there have been in the past.

Q = Don’t you think a 10 day mission is a bit short?A = No, I don’t think so. A lot of things can be done in 10 days!

Q = Do you think space medicine will be of use to people on Earth?A = Absolutely, it will be useful for all of us.

Q = Would you like to stay on the ISS for a longer time, let’s say a month?A = I hope to be able to go for a longer mission in the future.

Q = Roberto, how do you feel about flying with a space tourist?A = I think Mark Shuttleworth is a very nice guy.

Q = Roberto, was it difficult to learn Russian?A = At the beginning yes. Now it’s going much better.

Q = Will it be difficult to approach and make contact with the ISS?A = Yes, the docking is one of the most complex aspects of the flight.

Q = Would you like to take part in a mission to Mars?A = Yes, I would love to go visit Mars.

Q = Would you like to fly in the Space Shuttle?A = Yes, and I hope to be able to do so in the near future.

Q = Is the Russian ship confortable? Will you be able to stand up during your trip?A = The Russian ship is very small, and no I won’t be able to stand up while working.

Q = Did you have the chance to see the new Soyuz TMA simulator, and what do you think of the improvements?A = Yes, I’ve had the chance to see it, and there are some improvements in the cockpit.

Q = Roberto, aren’t space tourists a burden for the regular crew? I imagine they need looking after…A = Mark is a very clever guy, and probably won’t need much help!

Q = Roberto, what do you think will be the most unpleasant part of the trip?A = After insertion into orbit, my body will have to get used to the microgravity… that may be the most unpleasant part.

Q = Do you think that we’ll have an ISS European commander in the future? And an Italian one?A = Yes, I think one day we will have a European commander for the ISS… and an Italian one!

Q = Why did you decide to become an astronaut?A = So I could fly in space!

Q = Roberto, on the ISS, in what language will you guys communicate?A = We’ll be communicating in English and Russian.

Q = Roberto, can you tell us something about the period between entering the capsule and the actual launch?A = You enter the capsule 2 hours before the launch.

Q = I heard you are using a physical training method named “Whole Body Vibration” that helps prevent bone loss. Will you promote the use of this method for normal people after the flight?A = If it works well…. Yes!

Q = Roberto, how is Gidzenko?A = Gidzenko is a very nice guy.

Q = Could you bring me back a star?A = With pleasure!

Q = Roberto, will you be making some kind of contact from space like Guidoni?A = Yes, by amateur radio connections, phone calls, SMS, and video conferences.

Q = Will your family be there to watch the launch?A = Yes, my wife will be there.

Q = Do you think that ESA astronauts will have flight opportunities on Chinese spacecraft as they have on Soyuz?A = Chinese spacecrafts still have to prove themselves beforehand.

Q = Any differences in mission preparation in the US and in Star City?A = There are many differences….

Q = Is the REM phase and deep sleep the same in space as on Earth?A = This is still under study.

Q = Roberto, what kind of problems do long durations in microgravity bring to the body?A = Loss of muscle tone and osteoporosis are the principal problems.

Q = Is this your first time going into space?A = Yes it is.

Q = Do you think that one day we will be able to go for a ride in space as easily as we can now go shopping?A = Yes I do, and I don’t think it will be too long before we can….

Q = Did you train for this mission in swimming pools?A = For this mission it was not required. I will train in swimming pools when I return.

Q = Which is harder, training to be a pilot, or training to be an astronaut?A = They are both intense.

Q = How many astronauts will be with you on the ISS?A = In total we will be 6.

Q = How do you imagine the ISS of the future?A = I imagine it bigger than it is now.

Q = Do you already know your next assignment after this mission? Any future plans?A = I hope to fly again soon.

Q = What will be the temperature in the Soyuz?A = It will be around 20 – 25 degrees.

Q = Can Ariane go to the ISS?A = No, Ariane is not designed to go to the ISS.

Q = Roberto, will you bring a present to the ISS crew?A = I’ll probably bring them some chocolates.

Q = Will you bring some Italian food with you?A = Italian food is already included in our diet onboard!

Q = Will you try to keep your emotions hidden, and just show your professional side while among the stars?A = I hope there will be room for both my emotional and professional sides.

Q = Roberto, will you sleep on the ISS or the Soyuz?A = I will sleep on the ISS.

Q = Roberto, are you sleeping at the Star City Hotel?A = No I’m not.

Q = Are you happy about the work together with the World Health Organisation?A = Yes I am. It is good to see that there are common interests among health organizations and space agencies.

Q = Have you met any of the future space tourists?A = I’ve only met Mark Shuttleworth.

Q = How do you expect flying in weightlessness will be?A = In the first few days it will surely be a strange feeling!

Q = Is floating in space any different than swimming underwater?A = Yes there’s a very big difference, because in water there is friction.

Q = Will the Soyuz be the capsule used by Frank de Winne to come back next time?A = Yes.

Q = Where do you train to become an astronaut for ESA?A = The training is done in Russia or the States, and in the future it will also be done in Cologne, Germany.

Q = Do you think there will come a day that we can go to the moon for a weekend?A = Yes I do. Probably soon.

Q = What will you be doing after your flight?A = After the mission I will be in Italy for 2 months, and then I will go back to Houston.

Q = What happens when you need to go to the bathroom?A = We have toilet facilities that work like a vacuum.

Q = Will there be an ESA astronaut selection in the coming years?A = Yes, there should be one in the next 3 or 4 years.

Q = Did you always want to be an astronaut, or did it become an idea after you’d done other things?A = First I became a pilot, and then I decided to also become an astronaut.

Q = What will be the next steps in your career? A longer flight?A = I certainly hope so!

Q = What is the maximum age to go into space?A = There is no maximum age.

Q = How is it like working with the Russians?A = It’s a very nice experience. At the beginning it was a bit difficult because of the language barrier, but now it’s ok.

Q = Are you calm, or do you feel scared?A = Yes I’m calm, and I’m looking forward to the flight!

Q = How much time does it take for the Shuttle to leave the atmosphere?A = It takes the Shuttle about 20 minutes.

Q = Which university did you go to?A = I went to the Aeronautical Academy here in Italy.

Q = Did you enjoy it there?A = Yes I enjoyed it very much, although they were 4 years of hard work.

Q = Is it true that being in the army helped you become an astronaut?A = I think that being a pilot is important.